Boy in an induced coma after vehicle incident in Caboolture

A five-year-old boy has been rushed to hospital after he was hit by a wheel that flew off a moving vehicle outside a shopping complex in Caboolture.

A ute is taken away after a young boy was struck by a flying tyre. Picture: Josh Woning

A five-year-old boy remains seriously injured after he was hit by a wheel in a car in Caboolture on Wednesday afternoon.

The young boy has been placed in an induced coma, but suffered from serious internal and traumatic injuries.

Burpengary Forensic crash unit Sergeant Greg Price said the left rear tyre of the week has left the vehicle.

“The boy was unresponsive at the scene on the footpath and a number of bystanders have attended to the child immediately,” Sergeant Price said.

Caboolture man killed after motorcycle collides with 4WD

Pedestrians hurt in Brisbane crash, Caboolture smash causes delays

The boy was not breathing at the time of the incident, with Sergeant Price adding the family was incredibly traumatised by the incident.

“The offender was arrested at the time and taken to Caboolture station.”

He said the efforts of QAS was what kept the boy alive, with a number of factors involved causing the incident.

“People say it’s a freak accident, in the end the driver was in a vehicle that he shouldn’t have been in on a road that he shouldn’t have been at doing thing that shouldn’t have been done, which has subsequently caused the wheel to dislodge,” Sergeant Price said.

The boy was walking on the southern side of the footpath at Caboolture Square with his brother when he was hit by the wheel.

He had to be resuscitated by paramedics at the scene.

The ute being taken away following the incident. Picture: Josh Woning

EARLIER:

A five-year-old boy was rushed to hospital in a critical condition after he was hit by a wheel that flew off an unregistered utility allegedly driven by a man with a disqualified licence.

The man who was driving the car appeared to be hooning, and did not hold a licence.

The little boy was walking with family on the footpath outside Caboolture Square Shopping Centre in King St, Caboolture, about 4.30pm on Wednesday when the incident unfolded.

Police will allege the driver of the blue Ford Falcon utility was performing a burnout when the wheel came loose and struck the boy.

“The child suffered life-threatening head injuries,” police said in a statement.

Queensland Children’s Hospital said his condition had since improved and he was now stable.

The utility had been stationary at traffic lights when the driver began to spin its tyres to perform a burnout, police claim.

When the lights turned green, the driver accelerated and the wheel flung from the rear passenger side of the vehicle and hit the boy, police allege.

The ute is missing its rear-left wheel. Picture: Josh Woning

The 18-year-old driver was charged with a dangerous operation of a vehicle causing grievous bodily harm, driving unlicensed (disqualified by court order), driving unregistered, driving a safe but otherwise defective vehicle, and offences involving registration certificates.

He will face Pine Rivers Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Anyone with video footage is strongly urged to contact police.

The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating.

King St was closed for several hours while police conducted investigations.

The road has since reopened.